In Europe smoking inequalities are generally very large due to education, occupation and income level; smoking and other forms of tobacco consumption are considered the single most important cause of preventable morbidity and premature mortality worldwide, with tobacco being the major single cause for premature deaths in the European Union (EU). Special Eurobarometer 458/2017 indicates that over a quarter (26%) of European citizens are currently smoking, and an increase in consumption amongst young people aged 15-24 is observed since 2014 (from 24% to 29%). Smoking within the EU is estimated to cause 700.000 deaths annually, half of which are among 35–69-year-olds. As smoking is responsible for half the difference in deaths across socio-economic groups, tobacco control has a major role to play in reducing health and social inequalities. Efforts to reduce tobacco-related deaths and illness in the EU are made by the newly adopted binding legislation, the Tobacco Products Directive (TPD), and the ongoing implementation of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC).
ENSP plays a major role in the EU to prevent the tobacco industry from biasing and slowing down the tobacco control community effort. Key objectives for 2018-2021 are:
1. To assist and support at EU level the European Institutions with the complete implementation of tobacco control legislation, through the effective transposition and enforcement of the TPD (2014/40/EU) and the implementation of the WHO FCTC - through solid scientific evidence and awareness raising
2. To strengthen advocacy capacity at the EU MS National level, and more particularly to empower Civil Society organisations (Tobacco Control coalitions and NGOs), Policy Makers, academics, experts, etc.
3. To reduce health inequalities due to tobacco use at the micro level
4. To enhance the sustainability of ENSP to ensure the strategic long-term development, return on EU investment and continuation of activities post the 2018-2021 OG
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Smoking and other forms of tobacco consumption are considered the single most important cause of preventable morbidity and premature mortality worldwide. Efforts to reduce the devastation of tobacco-related deaths and illness in the EU consist of the Tobacco Products Directive (TPD), and the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). The TPD lays down rules governing the manufacture, presentation and sale of tobacco and related products. The TPD stipulates that Member States shall require manufacturers and importers of tobacco products to submit to their competent authorities information, via a common entry gate (EU-CEG) – an IT tool designed to ensure uniform application of the reporting and notification obligations, harmonise the submission of data, facilitate comparison and reduce administrative burden.

The general objective of the Joint Action on Tobacco Control will be to provide support for the implementation of the TPD throughout the 28 EU MS through the mining of EU-CEG data, supporting of laboratory collaborations and effort to evaluate priority additives. The specific aims of the project are:

• To ensure appropriate coordination and evaluation
• To support the dissemination of information to the public, regulators and researchers.
• To enhance the ease of access to the data collected through the EU CEG
• To monitor and provide support to the tasks of tobacco and e-cigarette product regulation
• Assist EU MS networking and collaborations between laboratories for tobacco evaluation.
• Support EU MS in the process of monitoring and updating priority additives
• To integrate the JATC results into national policies

With the above in mind, this proposal comes at a perfect timing to aid the regulatory activities that would be needed across the EU MS with regards to the implementation of the TPD across 28 EU MS spanning a population of 508 Million people.
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Within most European populations, smoking prevalence rates differ substantially according to people’s educational level, occupational class and income level. In the European countries, smoking inequalities are generally largest, and smoking is the largest single contributor to socio-economic inequalities in mortality. Significant inequalities in smoking are now emerging in all European countries, especially in the youngest generations. Tobacco products and secondhand smoke (SHS) kill, as documented in over 20 reports (eg: IARC, US Surgeon General). Exposure to SHS kills at least 79 000 people in the EU each year, incl. deaths from lung cancer, coronary heart disease, stroke and chronic non-neoplastic respiratory disease; plus deaths in childhood caused by SHS, deaths in adults from other conditions known to be caused by active smoking and the significant, serious morbidity, both acute and chronic, caused by SHS. Special Eurobarometer 385/2012 indicates that almost one third of European citizens currently smoke either cigarettes, cigars or a pipe. As smoking is responsible for half the difference in deaths across socio-economic groups, tobacco control has a major role to play in reducing health and social inequalities.ENSP plays a major role in Europe to prevent the tobacco industry from biaising and slowing down the tobacco control process. Indeed, ENSP was created for a tighter collaboration within the tobacco control community and for a stronger and united civil society action against tobacco. Key objectives during 2015-2017:- The support to the Directive 2014/40/EU and FCTC implementation- The facilitation of the creation and the operation of national alliances for tobacco control in Europe.- The stimulation of and the participation in European projects - The facilitation of networking in Europe- The collection and distribution of informationEuropean Network for Smoking and Tobacco Prevention 2015-2017: connecting, sharing, advocating to save lives!
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Tobacco consumption is the single largest avoidable health risk in the EU. Having long acknowledged this threat, the EU was instrumental in designing and achieving consensus on the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). The FCTC entered into force in 2005 and was ratified by the EU and its Member States. The Smoke Free Partnership (SFP) is the leading NGO in the EU advocating for FCTC implementation. Since its creation, SFP spearheaded high-profile campaigns across Europe to introduce effective and evidence-based smoking prevention measures. In 2014, SFP formalised its working partnerships by creating the Smoke Free Partnership Coalition. The overarching strategic goal of this proposal is to improve the health of EU citizens and reduce health inequalities by promoting smoking prevention at EU and Member State level with a special focus on young people. During this three year period, SFP set four strategic objectives: 1. Promote and support smoking prevention at EU and national level through the development of advocacy strategies that deliver specific EU tobacco control policies 2. Promote and support smoking prevention at international, European and national level through the development and implementation of the FCTC, its protocols and guidelines 3. Mobilise and strengthen the capacity of European and national civil society to complement, support and add value to the policies of the EU and of the Member States4. Strengthen SFP’s institutional capacity to enable it to meet its goal and objectivesThis proposal shows how the SFP Coalition will contribute to Objective 1 of the Health Programme as our work directly relates to health promotion, disease prevention and the fostering of supportive environments for healthy lifestyles. The outcomes of this proposal will complement, support and add value to EU and Member State policies which aim to improve the health of EU citizens and reduce health inequalities.
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The Association of European Cancer Leagues (ECL) provides a unique platform in Europe as the only organisation with the mission of uniting, at the European level, national and regional cancer leagues to achieve a cancer-free Europe. Active since 1980, ECL currently has 26 members from 23 countries in the European Region, covering 19 EU member states.
The objectives of this proposal are to:
- inform policy to ensure cancer control remains high on the political agenda;
- promote the European Code Against Cancer (ECAC) as the essential tool for cancer prevention in Europe;
- support leagues in the implementation of the Council Recommendation on Cancer Screening;
- unite leagues to advocate for equal access to treatment, support, and rehabilitation for cancer patients;
- advocate for the European Guide for quality improvement in comprehensive cancer control to be mainstreamed in national cancer control plans.
These objectives will be achieved through ECL's role as the secretariat of the MEPs against Cancer group; continuing our extensive work in tobacco control, including organising the triannual European Conference on Tobacco or Health (ECToH); developing training workshops and study exchanges for leagues; networking leagues in the ECL Patient Support Working Group, and Task Force on Access to Medicines; facilitating multi-stakeholder policy dialogues at national and European levels; and supporting targeted dissemination of ECAC to young people, including making use of the EU Solidarity Corps.
The activities of this proposal are particularity relevant to the work programme of the Third EU Health Programme as they directly address the core priorities of cancer, health promotion and prevention of chronic diseases, access to healthcare, and patient empowerment. These actions deliver high EU added-value by disseminating key outcomes from the EU level at the national level, and enabling the efficient input from cancer leagues to the EU policy dialogue.
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